Simplicity Principle

Principle

How it works

People often take the 'path of least resistance', making decisions based on
what seems easy rather than that which is most logical.

So make things easy to understand by careful simplification.
Especially if things are complex, take time to find ways of communicating the
ideas in ways that the other person will.

Language

Using jargon, big words and complex structures may make something seem
important but it also makes is more difficult to understand.

Metaphor or
analogy can be
used to simplify ideas by showing what they are like.

Shorter sentences requires the person to spend less time remembering
what was said and decoding the structure.

Reduction

Simplification can be achieved simply by showing or doing less. Talk
less. Show them fewer alternatives. Make the idea more stand-alone with less
associations. Reduce time, space, actions and people to make plan more
straightforward.

Rearrangement

Sometimes things can be made easier to understand by moving things around
into configurations that make more sense. You can move things in time as well as
space. You can change who does what, where people go, when things happen and so
on.

Replacement

Sometimes things can be made easier by throwing away what you currently have
and using something else that is easier to understand or accept.

KISS

A common acronym that is used as an admonition in many domains is 'KISS'.
This, rather rudely, stands for 'Keep It Simple, Stupid!' More politely, it
sometimes is interpreted as 'Keep It Short and Simple.'

The KISS principle is a useful thought to hold in any communication.

So what?

When seeking to change minds, start with how the other person understands,
then simplify such that you only have that which will persuade, and that this
will be optimally tuned for the person in question.

Note also that complexity can be a persuasive principle, using
confusion to create uncertainty which you then
address.